Dr. Derek Carlsen

All we are trying to do here is lay out what God has revealed about Himself in Scripture and it is because of this revelation that the true church has always defended the doctrine of God’s Threeness (Tri-Unity). This information has been placed under seven headings showing:

1. that God is One (a unity) and that there is only one true God.
2. that there is a plurality in the Godhead.
3. that this plurality consists of three distinct Persons.
4. that the distinct Person of the Father is truly God.
5. that the distinct Person of the Son is truly God.
6. that the distinct Person of the Holy Spirit is truly God.
7. further evidence for the personality of the Holy Spirit, since some people deny His personality.

This is merely an appendix and so for a more in-depth discussion about the Trinity and the relevance of this doctrine for our daily living I refer you to the article, The Trinity and Daily Living.

God is One

The Bible is very clear that there is only One God: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” (Deut.6:4). “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God…Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one” (Isa.44:6,8). “I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other…Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:6,6,21,22). “that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other” (1 Kings 8:60). “Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one’…So the scribe said to Him, ‘Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He’ (Mark 12:29,32). “Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one” (1 Cor.8:4). “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim.2:5; see too, Jn.17:3; 1 Cor.8:6; Gal.3:20; Eph.4:5,6; James 2:19; Jude 4).

Plurality in the Godhead

While the essence of God is one and cannot be separated or split up in any way whatsoever, the Scriptures show that we can distinguish between more than one Person within the Godhead. From the opening page of the Bible we are made aware that God exists as more than one Person. In Gen.1:26 God says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. Many people try to avoid the plain meaning of this verse by giving different explanations as to why God used the plural here. One of these arguments is that God was speaking to the angels, but man was not made in the image of angels and angels were not involved in creating man. We do not have a full revelation of the Trinity in Gen.1:26, however, to see this as a glimpse that there is a plurality of Persons in the One God, gives the only satisfactory solution for the use of the plural in this verse. The doctrine of the Trinity is at the heart of Christianity and thus we should not think it strange that God reveals Himself in this way from the very beginning—this is who He is! Though we do not find a full revelation of the Triune God in the Old Testament (OT), we do find a number of indications of this doctrine there. As redemptive history unfolded and the Word became flesh (John 1:14) and the Holy Spirit came in abundant measure (Acts 2) to equip the church, so, the revelation of the Triune God become clearer.

• Other OT verses where God uses the plural with reference to Himself: “Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever’” (Gen.3:22). “But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said, Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech” (Gen.11:5-7). “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me’” (Isa.6:8).
• Another indication of the plurality within the Godhead is when God anoints God: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions” (Ps.45:6-7).
• Where the LORD speaks to David’s LORD: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool’” (Ps.110:1).
• Then compare these next two passages: “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, ‘What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?’ They said to Him, ‘The Son of David.’ He said to them, ‘How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’ If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?’ And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore’” (Matt.22:41-46). “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand’” (Acts 2:34).
• Where the LORD GOD and His Spirit send one who has been with God from eternity: “Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord God and His Spirit Have sent Me. Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go’” (Isa.48:16,17).
• Where God will raise up a King who will Himself be God—THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jer.23:5,6).
• Where God says that He will save His people by means of someone else who is also God: “Yet I will have mercy on the house of Judah, Will save them by the Lord their God, And will not save them by bow, Nor by sword or battle, By horses or horsemen” (Hos.1:7).
• Where the LORD says He will come and dwell in the midst of His people, but that the LORD of hosts will send Him: “‘Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,’ says the Lord. ‘Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you’” (Zech.2:10,11).
• Where two personalities are referred to, with One raining down fire from the other One, i.e., God the Son poured out the fire from God the Father: “Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens” (Gen.19:24). “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).

This Plurality is Shown to Be Three Distinct Persons

John Calvin said, “While [God] proclaims his unity, he distinctly sets it before us as existing in three persons” (Institutes 1:13:2).

• God is the savior of His people: “They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt” (Ps.106:21). “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation’” (Isa.12:2). “For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place…I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior” (Isa.43:3,11).
• In the NT we are told that Jesus is the savior of His people: “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, God with us”(Matt.1:21-23). “Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world’”(John 4:42; see too Titus 2:13,14; 1 Jn.4:14).
• God the Father sent His Son into the world: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn.3:16). “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (Jn.6:38). “do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” (Jn.10:36). “Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, ‘They will respect my son’” (Mk.12:6). “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Gal.4:4). “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 Jn.4:9-10).
• The Father and the Son both sent the Holy Spirit: “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever” (Jn.14:16). “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (Jn.14:26). “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me” (Jn.15:26). “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you” (Jn.16:7). “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Lk.24:49). “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’”(Gal.4:6).
• The Father speaks to the Son: “Then a voice came from heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (Mk.1:11). “And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased’” (Lk.3:22). “‘Father, glorify Your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘I have both glorified it and will glorify it again’” (Jn.12:28). “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You’” (Ps.2:7).
• The Father speaks about the Son: “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’” (Matt.17:5). “For to which of the angels did He ever say: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You’? And again: ‘I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son’?” (Heb.1:5). “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles” (Isa.42:1).
• The Son talks to the Father: “At that time Jesus answered and said, ‘I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight’” (Matt.11:25-26; see too, Matt.26:39). “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me’” (Jn.11:41-42; see too, Jn.12:27,28; 17:1).
• The Son talks about the Father: “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak” (Jn.12:49). “You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I” (Jn.14:28; see too, Jn.16:28; 20:21).
• The Holy Spirit prays to God through the hearts of believers: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom.8:26).
• The Holy Spirit speaks to people and teaches them about Christ: “Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot’” (Acts 8:29). “While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Behold, three men are seeking you’” (Acts 10:19). “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them’” (Acts 13:2). “For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Lk.12:12). “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me” (Jn.15:26; see too, Jn.16:13-16).

Thus we have seen that the Scriptures show that there is a clear distinction between the Persons within the Godhead:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (Jn.1:1-2).

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 Jn.2:1).

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph.3:14).

And we have also seen that there are three distinct Persons within the Godhead and that each Person possesses the entire and absolute essence of God. This means it is heretical to suggest that God consists of only one Person who manifests Himself in three different ways or modes, i.e., as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. A frequent OT phrase is, “The Name of the Lord” and Jesus’ disciples would have been very familiar with this. Jesus explained the full meaning of this term in Matthew 28:19 when He told His disciples that believers are to be baptized into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We see that the Father is not the Son or the Spirit and the Son is not the Father or the Spirit and the Spirit is not the Father or the Son, yet we are to be baptized into only one name. Jesus does not use the plural ‘names’, but the singular ‘name’ thus preserving the unity of God, while at the same time showing that the term ‘Lord’ includes Father, Son and Holy Spirit—the Trinity of Persons. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are also named together in the following verses:

“When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, ‘You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased’” (Lk.3:21-22).

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all” (1 Cor.12:4-6).

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen” (2 Cor.13:14).

“elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied” (1 Pet.1:2).

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 20-21).

The Father is God

• Jesus addressed God as ‘Father’: “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You…And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was...Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are…Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world…O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me’” (Jn.17:1,5,11,24,25). “And He said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will’” (Mk.14:36). “In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, ‘I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight’” (Lk.10:21; see too, Lk.23:34,46).
• Jesus talked about God as His ‘Father’: “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven” (Matt.10:32). “And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’” (Lk.2:49). “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven’” (Jn.6:32). “Then they said to Him, ‘Where is Your Father?’ Jesus answered, ‘You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also’” (Jn.8:19). “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father” (Jn.10:18). “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me” (Jn.10:25). See too: Matt.15:13; Jn.10:29.
• The Jews wanted to kill Jesus for making Himself equal with God: “Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God” (Jn.5:18).
• The Scriptures call Christ the ‘Son of God’: “Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matt.16:16). “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mk.1:1). “And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God’” (Lk.1:35). “And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God” (Jn.1:34). “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (Jn.20:31). “Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God” (Acts 9:20). “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Rom.1:1-4). “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 Jn.4:15). “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 Jn.5:5)… See too: Jn.10:36; 1 Jn.5:20.
• When the Father/Son relationship is being talked about, often the Father is called God: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life…For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (Jn.3:16,17). “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom.8:3). “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom.8:31,32). “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law” (Gal.4:4). “For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (2 Pet.1:17). See too: 1 Jn.4:9-10; 2 Jn.3.

The Son is God

• Jesus is clearly called ‘God’: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us” (Matt.1:23). “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn.1:1). “And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (Jn.20:28). “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God” (Php.2:6). “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory” (1 Tim.3:16). See too: Rom.9:5; Titus 1:3; 2:13; Heb.1:8.
• Hebrews applies the words, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever”, to Jesus Christ: “But to the Son He says: ‘Your throne, O God, is forever and ever…’” (Heb.1:8, quoting Ps.45:6-7).
• Hebrews also says that Ps.102:24-27 is referring to Christ: “And: ‘You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail’” (Heb.1:10-12).
• The title “Son of God” is a Divine term and is often used as a title for Jesus: “But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, ‘I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?’ They answered and said, ‘He is deserving of death’” (Mt.26:63-66). “Then they all said, ‘Are You then the Son of God?’ So He said to them, ‘You rightly say that I am. And they said, ‘What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth’” (Lk.22:70,71). “The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God’” (Jn.19:7).
• John tells us that his whole purpose in writing his gospel was so people would imitate Thomas and believe in Jesus’ Divinity: “And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’…And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (Jn.20:28,30,31).
• John says when Isaiah saw the glory of God (Isa.6:1-10), he was describing Christ: “Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’ These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him” (Jn.12:39-41).
• Isaiah’s stone of stumbling and rock of offence is clearly Divine, yet this is Jesus Christ: “As it is written: ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame’” (Rom.9:33, compare with Isa.8:13-15). “Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against” (Lk.2:34). “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.’ Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,’ and ‘A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.’ They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed” (1 Pet.2:4-8).
• The “Mighty God” in Isaiah’s prophesy (9:1-6) refers to Jesus Christ: “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned’” (Matt.4:14-16).
• To make ready for God is to make ready for Christ: “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight’” (Mt 3:3, c.f., Isa.40:3). “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways” (Lk.1:76).
• Only God can contain the fullness of God and know the fullness of God: “For in Him [Jesus] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col.2:9). “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him” (Matt.11:27). “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father…” (Jn.10:15).
• Every knee (i.e., person) will bow to God/Christ: “I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath” (Isa.45:23). “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Php.2:10). “And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!’” (Rev.5:13).
• Both Christ and God are the focus of worship and prayer: “Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God’” (Matt.14:33). “When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted” (Matt.28:17; see too, Lk.24:52; Jn.9:38; Acts 7:59,60; Heb.1:6). “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb….Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever” (Rev.5:8-14; see too Rev.7:9-12). “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…” (Ex.20:3-5). See too: Ps.81:9; Isa.42:8.
• God says He is the “first and the last,” yet Jesus uses these exact terms for Himself: “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God” (Isa.44:6). “Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last” (Isa.48:12). “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (Rev.22:13).
• The LORD tells us that He does not change and Jesus doesn’t change: “They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will have no end” (Ps.102:26,27). “For I am the Lord, I do not change” (Mal.3:6). “They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail” (Heb.1:11-12). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb.13:8).
• We are told that God made all things and that Jesus made all things: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen.1:1; see too Ex.20:11; 1 Chr.16:26; Neh.9:6; Ps.8:3; Isa.44:24). “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made…He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him” (Jn.1:3,10). “yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live” (1 Cor.8:6). “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Col.1:16). And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands” (Heb.1:10).
• Jesus upholds and preserves everything that exists: “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Col.1:17). “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb.1:3).
• Christ is eternal: “He was in the beginning with God” (Jn.1:2). “Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM’” (Jn.8:58). “the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us” (1 Jn.1:2). “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Rev.1:8; see too, Rev.1:17; 22:13).
• Christ is omniscient: “But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts?’” (Matt.9:4). “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him” (Matt.11:27). “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man” (Jn.2:23-25; see too, John 21:17). “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col.2:3). “I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works” (Rev.2:23).
• Christ is omnipresent: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt.18:20). “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt.28:20; see too, Eph.1:23).
• Christ is omnipotent: “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth’” (Matt.28:18). “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (Jn.1:3). “who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Php.3:21). “and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” (Col.2:10). “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb.1:3; see too, Rev.1:8; 11:17).
• Jesus is Immanuel: “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isa.7:14). “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us’” (Matt.1:22-23).
• Jesus is “I AM”: When Moses asked about God’s name, God said, “I AM WHO I AM” (Ex.3:14). Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). The religious leaders instantly recognized the connection Jesus made with God because they wanted to stone Him for saying this.
• A few more thoughts: Salvation is found only in Jesus, the LORD, but how can Jesus be called ‘LORD’ if the doctrine of the Trinity is denied? The only thing we are to glory in, is knowing and understanding God (Jer.9:23,24; 1 Cor.1:21; 2 Cor.10:17), however, in Corinth, Paul refused to preach about anything other than Jesus Christ (1 Cor.2:2). Jesus is to be honored with the same honor God receives (John 5:18,23; 14:1; Ps.146:3-6; 2 Cor.1:9; Eph.1:12,13). Much more evidence could be given to prove that Jesus is equal with God yet what has been given is enough to establish the point beyond doubt.

The Holy Spirit is God

• To lie to the Holy Spirit is to lie to God: “But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God’” (Acts 5:3-4).
• The Spirit is omnipresent: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea” (Ps.139:7-9).
• The Spirit is eternal: “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb.9:14).
• Creation is ascribed to the Spirit: “By His Spirit He adorned the heavens; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent” (Job 26:13). “You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the earth” (Ps.104:30).
• The Spirit is involved in the work of regeneration, sanctification and raising the dead: “Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God’” (Jn.3:5). “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor.6:11; see too, 2 Thess.2:13; Rom.8:9). “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Rom.8:11).
• Only God could dwell in every believer in the whole world: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Cor.3:16). “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor.13:13; see too Acts 2:38).
• Only God can know the deep things of God: “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor.2:10,11). Comparisons: Compare Ex.17:7 with Heb.3:7-9. Compare Isa.6:8-10 with Acts 28:25-27. Compare 1 Cor.3:16 with 1 Cor.6:19.

The Holy Spirit is a Person

The Holy Spirit is not some impersonal force, power or influence for Scripture clearly shows that He has a real personality. The Spirit teaches, gives instruction, brings things to remembrance, convicts, guides, testifies about and glorifies Christ, speaks, hears, shows, leads, is grieved, can be blasphemed against, tempted and resisted by people (Lk.12:12; Acts 8:29; Jn.14:26; 16:8,13,14; Rom.8:14; Eph.4:30; Matt.12:31; Acts 5:9; 7:51; Isa.63:10).

• The Spirit inspired the Biblical writers: “For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool’” (Mk.12:36). “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus” (Acts 1:16; see too Acts 28:25).
• The Spirit intercedes for people: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom.8:26-27).
• The Spirit gives gifts: “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (1 Cor.12:4,11).
• The Spirit bears witness to the truth and confirms the preaching of the gospel: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8; see too Acts 5:32). “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Rom.8:16). “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake” (1 Thes.1:5; see too 1 Pet.1:11,12).
• The Spirit has His own will: “After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them” (Acts 16:7). “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (1 Cor.12:11).

The Spirit is not merely the impersonal power or force of God and is distinguished from this power, whether His own or the Father’s. “And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God’” (Lk.1:35). Moreover, if the Spirit was just the power of God, then it is meaningless to say, “Jesus returned in the power of the power.” “Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region” (Lk.4:14; see too, Acts 10:38; Rom.15:13; 1 Cor.2:4). If the Spirit is merely the “force” of God (the energy God uses to accomplish His will), then how could Paul talk about “the love of the Spirit” (Rom.15:30)? And how could the apostles have said, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…” (Acts 15:28), or that the “Spirit said…” (Acts 13:2)? The Scriptures tell us that no one directs or instructs the Spirit (Isa.40:13), but a “power” or “force” needs to be directed. “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has taught Him?” (Isa.40:13).